Winter 2020-2021

As the months passed, Hyuna and Hyunseung didn't see each other, and the distance between them only grew. Hyuna was trying to work things out with Dawn, but it wasn't easy. She still had feelings for Hyunseung, and it was hard to let go of their past.

Then November came, and the government announced a new lockdown due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. Hyuna and Dawn were devastated. They had been planning to celebrate their official two-year anniversary, although they really had been together a bit longer. Dawn had even bought the rings to propose to her at Namsan Tower.

But with the lockdown in place, their plans were ruined. Hyuna tried to console Dawn, but she could see the disappointment in his eyes.

"It's okay, Dawn," she said softly, trying to cheer him up. "We'll celebrate our anniversary when everything goes back to normal."

Dawn gave her a small smile, but she could see that he was still upset. "I just wanted to do something special for you," he said, his voice full of regret.

Hyuna took his hand, squeezing it gently. "You already do something special for me every day," she said, looking into his eyes. "I love you, Dawn. That's all that matters."

Dawn leaned in to kiss her, and for a moment, everything felt right. But as they pulled away, Hyuna couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She wasn't ready for marriage, and she didn't know if she ever would be.

As December rolled around, the lockdown continued, and the holidays felt muted and dull. It was a winter without snow. Hyuna tried to stay positive, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness wash over her.

One day, as she was scrolling through her phone, she saw a message from Hyunseung. It had been months since they had last talked, and she felt a sense of nervousness as she read his words.

"Hey, how have you been?" he wrote.

Hyuna hesitated for a moment before responding. "I've been okay," she wrote back. "How about you?"

They continued to chat back and forth, catching up on everything that had happened in the past few months. Hyuna could feel her heart racing as she typed out her responses, and she knew that she still had feelings for him.

As they said their goodbyes, Hyuna felt a sense of longing wash over her. She missed Hyunseung, and she didn't know how to deal with her emotions.

Later that night, as she lay in bed next to Dawn, she couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about Hyunseung, and she knew that she needed to figure out what she truly wanted.

She called her friend, Jessi. 

"Hyuna, you keep stringing both of them along. You need to figure out what you truly want."

Hyuna nodded slowly, feeling a sense of clarity wash over her. "But how do I choose?" she asked, her voice trembling. "They're both so important to me."

Jessi took a deep breath, thinking carefully about what to say next. "Hyuna, I know this is hard," she said. "But you have to think about what's best for you. Who makes you the happiest? Who do you see a future with?"

Hyuna sighed, feeling torn. "I don't know," she said. "I love them both in different ways."

"I know, girl. But you can't keep leading them on. It's not fair to either of them."

Hyuna nodded slowly, feeling a sense of guilt wash over her. She knew that Jessi was right. She couldn't keep avoiding the issue. She needed to make a decision, even if it meant risking everything.

As the weeks went by, Hyuna thought long and hard about her future. She spent time with both Dawn and Hyunseung, trying to figure out what her heart truly wanted.

But with each passing day, the decision grew more difficult. Both men had their own unique qualities, and Hyuna loved them both deeply.

Finally, on New Year's Eve, Hyuna knew that she couldn't put it off any longer. She needed to make a choice.

She met with Dawn at a small café near her apartment, their usual spot. As they sipped on hot chocolate, Hyuna took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Dawn, I need to talk to you about something," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I know that you've been waiting for me to say yes to your proposal, but I'm just not ready. I need more time."

Dawn's expression fell, and Hyuna felt a pang of guilt in her chest. "I understand," he said softly. "But Hyuna, I need to know. Do you still love me? Do you see a future with me?"

Hyuna hesitated for a moment, thinking carefully about her words. "Dawn, I love you," she said, tears filling her eyes. "But I'm not sure if I see a future with you."

Dawn's eyes widened in surprise, and Hyuna could see the pain in his expression. "Is it because of Hyunseung?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hyuna nodded slowly, feeling a sense of relief at finally being honest. "I still have feelings for him, Dawn," she said. "I don't know what to do."

Dawn took a deep breath, looking at her with a mix of sadness and understanding. "Hyuna, I love you," he said. "But I can't keep waiting for you to make a decision. I need to know where I stand."

Hyuna felt a sense of sadness wash over her as Dawn got up to leave. She knew that she had hurt him, and she didn't know how to make it better.

As she walked back to her apartment, she knew that she needed to talk to Hyunseung. She needed to tell him the truth and figure out if they had a future together.

But as she reached for her phone, she hesitated. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if she had already lost both of the men she loved?

She took a deep breath, trying to push away her doubts and fears. She needed to be brave, even if it meant risking everything.

With a trembling hand, she dialed Hyunseung's number, her heart pounding.

Hyuna took a deep breath and continued walking, her mind racing with doubts and fears. She couldn't deny the fact that she still had feelings for Hyunseung, but she also didn't want to lose what she had with Dawn.

As she walked out on the the city streets, she saw a big screen flashing a promotion for Cube Entertainment, announcing Hyunseung's new single, a comeback. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched him dance, his moves captivating and powerful.

She felt a sense of longing and nostalgia wash over her as she remembered their time together in Troublemaker. She couldn't help but wonder what could have been if things had gone differently.

But as she continued to watch him, she saw a glimmer of hope. Maybe there was a chance for them after all. Maybe they could work things out and find a way to be together.

With a newfound determination, Hyuna made a decision. She would reach out to Hyunseung and tell him how she felt. She couldn't keep running away from her feelings, and she needed to take a chance on love.

As she walked up to her apartment, she pulled out her phone and dialed his number, her heart pounding in her chest. It rang a few times.

Hyuna felt a pang of disappointment as the call went straight to voicemail. She had hoped that Hyunseung would answer, but now she was left with her thoughts and doubts once again.

She sighed, wondering what she should do next. Should she leave a message? Should she try calling again? Or should she just give up and accept that things may never work out between them?

As she pondered her options, she heard a knock on her door. Curious, she went to answer it and was surprised to see Hyunseung standing on the other side.

"Hyunseung," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

Hyunseung gave her a small smile. "I saw that you called," he said. "I wanted to see you."

Hyuna and Hyunseung stood facing each other in her apartment, both feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. It had been months since they had seen each other, and even longer since they had spoken about their feelings.

Hyunseung held out a bottle of champagne as a gift, a small smile on his face. "I wanted to celebrate my comeback with you," he said, his voice soft.

Hyuna took the bottle from him, feeling a sense of warmth spread through her. "Thank you," she said, her own smile growing.

They sat down on the couch, both feeling a sense of ease in each other's company. Hyunseung congratulated Hyuna on her upcoming album release, and they talked about their music and creative inspirations.

"I really like the lyrics for your song," Hyunseung said, referring to "I'm Not Cool". "They suit you so well."

Hyuna blushed, feeling a sense of pride at his words. "Thanks, I'm glad you like them," she said.

"Dawn helped me compose the song," she blurted biting her upper lip. Hyuna hadn't expected those words to slip in front of Hyunseung. 

Hyunseung's expression turned more serious as he looked at her.

"There's something my father often told me as a child," she said. "He said that I'm here because of others, and that others are here because of me. When I was little I didn't understand what those words meant, but as time passed by those words soak into my skin in different ways."

Hyunseung listened intently, feeling a sense of intrigue. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"I think it means that the people around us shape us in ways we don't even realize," Hyuna said. "Whether it be 10 years ago or now, I think I try to work just a little harder on stage for the people who lift me up like you."

Hyunseung nodded slowly, feeling a sense of resonance with his words. "I think I understand," she said. "I've always felt that way too, especially with my fans and the people who support me."

They fell into a comfortable silence, both lost in their own thoughts. As they finished the bottle of champagne, Hyuna realized that she had been enjoying herself in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.

"I'm really glad we did this," she said, looking at Hyunseung with a small smile.

Hyunseung nodded, his own smile growing. "Me too," he said. "I've missed you, Hyuna."

Hyuna's heart skipped a beat at his words, feeling a sense of warmth spread through her. "I've missed you too," she said, feeling emboldened.

"Hyunseung, there's something I need to tell you."

Hyunseung looked at her with a mix of curiosity and concern. "What is it?" he asked.

Hyuna took a deep breath, feeling a sense of courage. "I still have feelings for you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hyunseung's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't look away. "Hyuna," he said softly. "I still have feelings for you too."

As Hyuna and Hyunseung looked out of the window, they saw the first snowflakes of the season gently falling from the sky. The window was frosted over, with delicate icicles forming at the bottom. The view outside was breathtaking, with the snow covering the ground and the trees, creating a serene winter wonderland.

The snowflakes danced in the air, some swirling in circles while others floated down gracefully, settling on the branches of the trees. The light from the streetlamps reflected off the snow, creating a soft glow that illuminated the otherwise dark night.

The silence was interrupted only by the faint sound of snowflakes landing on the ground and the occasional car passing by, their headlights reflecting off the snow. Hyuna and Hyunseung stood there in silence, taking in the beauty of the first snow of the season. It was a moment of peace and tranquility, a moment to simply be in the present and appreciate the simple pleasures of life.

As they looked at each other, both feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement, they realized that their journey was far from over. But for now, they were content to sit together, enjoying each other's company and the warmth of their shared feelings.